This week I had time to read two great books. The first was Death, Deceit and some Smooth Jazz by Claudia Mair Burney. The second was If the Shoe Fits by Marilyn Griffith. These were the first books I’d read by both these women, but won’t be the last.

The other book I enjoyed was Death, Deceit and some Smooth Jazz. This is the second book in the Amanda Bell Brown mystery series, but I never felt lost because I haven’t read the first book.

Amanda Brown is a forty year old psychiatrist who is trying to convince herself that she isn’t in love with Jazz Brown, a homicide Lieutenant. Then he shows up at her door. The only problem is her sister calls her away, because Jazz’s ex has been found murdered in Jazz’s loft.

Everybody tells her to stay out of the investigation, but Amanda can’t. Partly because she’s not sure Jazz did it, and partly because she doesn’t think the police are willing to look at anyone else as a suspect.

The writing was fresh with a sassy twist that I really enjoyed. And the faith element was amazingly fresh and real. Like this: “I had a WWJD moment. What would Jesus do? Not in a rubber bracelet, weird, Christian subculture, Jesus-junk-wearing way, but in a breathing incarnational, God-with-us way.”

Amanda struggles with her feelings for Jazz; the sparks between them are hot and alive. It takes everything in her not to succumb to her longings, and to stand for right.